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Can anyone Help me read my MRI? IN PAIN & I am new here!

My short story is that from a jet skit accident, I had a mild fracture to the L3 in June 2004. I healed since then but never felt 100% since! (low back pain and bilateral leg pain/spasm). But the severe pains/pinches left after the 1st year.. only decreased to mild.

Seems like "all of a sudden" the week before Christmas this year, my low back began severe sharp, shooting pain and extreme spasms from my mid-back down through both legs. It has been exactly 4 weeks and I went through 3 weeks anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers. Absolutely no improvement.

My Dr. ordered my MRI which is confusing. Both he and the radiologist said I had fully recovered from the fracture 2 1/2 yrs ago as far as the bones and disks. But they said whatever I show on the MRI is rare. It reads:
"Findings: The conus medullaris terminates at the inferior L2 level, within the lower limits of normal. There is normal variation in the position of the conus, but positioning inferior to the L2-3 disk is considered abnormal. Additionally, there is a fatty filum terminale which is not thickened. While these may represent incidental findings, clinical correlation as to symptoms of tethered cord is recommended."

I know this is a lot, but is there any way you can help me understand this more? I am to see a neurologist next week, but I am very worried. They seem to think what is going on might be congenital. This confuses me. Can you please help me? I am only 22 and my daily living is awful.

I used to be very active.. karate, sports, you name it. Now I can barely stand to walk around my house, let alone work or go grocery shopping. I am a newlywed of 5 months who is worried about being able to carry my children in the future!!

Just so it is stated... there was not one thing that I did which made this pain return so heavily 4 weeks ago.. not even newlywed things. Unfortunately I hurt too much for anything since the original accident, let alone that. But I was actually seeming like I was getting better right before the Christmas pain. Help!

I cant help with the interpretation of your MRI, but hopefully someone who can will be along soon

so sorry you are having to deal with this and do hope that you will find answers and effective treatment

Cheri

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~Chemar~

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Hello Pinapple Princess! First off welcome......in reading what you posted sounds like you have a pinched nerve.

Never worry about seeing a Neurologist or Neurosurgeon.....prepare by outlining where your pain originates, travels, is located, when it occurs, which position is best for you and research the - sounds like L2 area of your spine - a pinched nerve in the L2 area usually results in upper leg pain (either side), trouble standing etc.

Sounds like something happened around Christmas to aggravate the nerve....it has been three months since the "occurrance" so when you see your Neurologist do not be surprised to start the second phase of "Conservative Treatment" which may include physical therapy, massage, swimming for exercise and medications (if they are helping) You are in a flare and using the principals of PRICE (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate) will help you - take it easy, I know it is hard to "compress" our backs but there are ace wraps, the object is to steady the area......

My doctor even suggested a back brace for me at one point (My orthopedic surgeon said not to use it though)

I have been living with about the same condition you have but the L5-S1 thru L-3 are pinched nerves, herniated and at the L5-S1 area a nerve narrowing and Spondylosis (arthritis) at the L5-S1 through the L3 disks......that's just my lower back...some days are miserable, use a cane but cope......that is important coping. Finding a site like this one is helpful - the advice I have recieved on this board has been very valuable.

I had a mri done on August 19, 2013. I do not know how to read them with all the medical terms. here are some of the terms I do understand. I had a tumor on the tail of my pancreas removed
Findings:
tiny hepatic cysts.
vague area of hyperenhancement within the liver bilaterally
area of heterogeneoussignal within the expected resection site
side branch ectasia with diffuse atrophy
they say that is is a pancreatic bengin neoplasm is that good news
Thank you
Jeff

…welcome to the board. To understand what the doctors are looking at go to Wikipedia and search on filum terminale and conus medullaris. You’ll get the general idea that the issue seems to be that they are seeing a condition that may or may not have anything to do with the present symptoms you are having. You have a fair amount of issues and I would recommend that since you are so young you try to understand as best as you can what is going on.

The nerves are definitely being aggravated but they don’t know whether it’s from the condition they are seeing on the MRI or a deterioration of your condition after surgery. Nerves are the real unknown for science and medicine. They know the physical construction of the body but how that system operates still baffles science. Particularly when there is pain involved.

If your quality of life has become so degraded they need to consider more aggressive pain management. The longer your pain goes on the more the pain cycle is established. The realization that you need help sadly can be slow in coming for doctors; if they are not doing what you think is necessary tell them.

Since your condition involves both an accident and potentially congenital issues please feel free to come here and talk with the people on this board. This is a wonderful place for help and support!

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatmentprovided by a qualified health care provider. Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.